Steel wing attack Courtney Tairi has spent the past nine months rehabilitating and is ready to make her ANZ Championship return.
The 24-year-old tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee just six games into her debut season with the southern franchise.
The former New South Wales Swifts player had surgery in May and has been working her way back to match fitness.
She looked in good touch in a warm-up game against the NZNPA Legends in Dunedin last Saturday and is almost back to 100% - just in time for the Steel's opening game against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane tomorrow.
''I feel fine. The more training I've got under my belt and the more games I've played in, the more the confidence has returned,''she said.
Tairi has been back running since late January after building up her strength in the gym and in the pool.
It is the second time around for Tairi. In 2007 the Australian-born player had the same injury in the other knee. Having to go through the rehabilitation again was disheartening but not as intimidating.
''I knew what I was in for so it was a lot easier this time around. I knew what to expect from surgery. The only hard part was getting my body back into the shape it was before.''
''I felt like I was just starting to hit my straps with the team in that wing attack position too. So that set us back as a team because we had to adjust our line-up.''
Tairi looks set to start at wing attack, with experienced campaigners Phillipa Finch (centre) and Wendy Frew (wing defence) behind her. Fringe Silver Fern Shannon Francois may have to come off the bench.
That competition for places should serve the Steel well. The team is hoping for a top-six finish and Tairi feels that is within the side's reach.
''Top six, yes, but I'd really like to get us in the top four because anything can happen in finals.''
